Feature - Optometry looks out for base

  • Published
by 1st Lt. Angela Martin 
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs 

1/21/2014 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The optometry clinic located at David Grant USAF Medical Center provides comprehensive eye exams and services supporting aircrew and readiness for active-duty members. 

The clinic also aims to serve the eye care needs of dependents and retirees enrolled in TRICARE Prime as well as other TRICARE options on a space-available basis. 

DGMC beneficiaries are eligible for a variety of services, including comprehensive eye exams to rule out disease, diabetic screenings, glaucoma screenings, eyeglasses for active-duty and retired service members. As part of the comprehensive eye exams, patients can expect to have their eyes dilated and afterwards some patients may need a driver if they do not feel safe after the exam. 

"When we dilate an eye, we make the pupil big enough to evaluate the entirety of the back of the eye, including the retina and optic nerve," said Capt. Nicholas Jones, 60th Aerospace Medicine Squadron optometry flight staff optometrist. 

The clinic encourages everyone to have a comprehensive eye examination. Jones also expressed the importance of children's eye exams. 

"Sometimes a person doesn't know how clear their vision can be until we show them with a refraction." he said. "My personal goal would be to see all the kids enrolled at David Grant to reduce eye development issues at an early age." 

TRICARE covers a well-child eye examination every 12 months for active duty family members ages 3 years and older. 

Patients should bring their eyeglasses to the appointment and contact lens wearers should also wear or bring a set of contacts. Contact lens users are asked to bring a copy of their old contact prescription or boxes with the lens brand, power, base curve and diameter. The optometrist can make recommendations for contacts and often renew a previous prescription, but the clinic does not offer first-time contact prescriptions or refits into another brand. 

All eye exams done at the optometry clinic are permanently stored in the military electronic record system and will be available at most DOD facilities. Additionally, the optometry clinic works closely with the DGMC ophthalmology clinic as a first stop for active-duty members seeking laser eye surgery as well as referring appropriate eye disease and pathology. 

Exams can be scheduled by calling the central appointment line at 423-3000.